“Do some Christmas traditions have pagan origins?”…There is no doubt that some of what we now refer to as Christmas traditions can be traced back, in some form, to pagan cultures and celebrations. The ringing of bells, for example, is generally thought to have had its origin in the early pagan winter celebration of ringing of bells to drive out evil spirits. In later centuries, bells were rung on Christmas Eve to welcome in the spirit of Christmas with joyful noise…Psalm 95:1…1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.…When Christians enjoy the beauty of a glorious bell choir ringing Christmas carols, we are reminded of the coming of Jesus into the world, not the driving out of evil spirits.……Similarly, there was an early pagan tradition of lighting candles to drive away the forces of cold and darkness. However, is it likely that our hearts are drawn to those early pagans rather than rejoicing in our Savior, the Light of the Worldas we light candles? Of course not.…John 1:4-9…4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,( Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything). and his life brought light to everyone.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.( Or and the darkness has not understood it.) 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, (Greek a man named John)7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.…Nor is it likely that when I give gifts to my loved ones at Christmas, the gifts will have less significance to either of us because some Druid somewhere in time offered a gift to his goat as part of some pagan ritual. …No, we remember, as we should, the gifts given to the Christ-child by the Magi…Matthew 2:11…11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.…Jesus was the greatest gift ever given, and therefore His birth is worthy of celebration.…So obscure are the beginnings of many Christmas traditions that reference books and internet sites contradict one another on the details. Some of our most popular and beloved Christmas symbols are entirely Christian, and were never part of any pagan religion anywhere.…At the same time, some Christmas traditions undoubtedly do have their origins in the pagan past. What is important is not the origins of traditions, but their significance to us today as believers in the Son of God. December 25 was not mentioned in the biblical narrative as the day Jesus was born, and, as such, we cannot be dogmatic about it one way or the other. But even if the date is completely wrong, there is still the opportunity for thousands of people who wouldn't go to church any other time of the year to go on Christmas day and hear the gospel of Christ.……If you are fully convinced that you cannot, in good conscience, observe a particular Christmas tradition, do not observe it.…If you are fully convinced that a particular tradition is too steeped in paganism to honor God in any way, by all means forsake that tradition.…At the same time, if you are fully convinced that you can honor and worship God through a particular tradition, honor and worship God…Romans 14:5…5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.… For Christians, Christmas traditions can be an important part of the celebration of the birth of our Savior, and they remind us of that momentous event that changed the world forever. More importantly, they bring to mind the miracle of new birth He created in us when He came into our hearts, saved us from our sins, and made us children of God by the shedding of His blood on the Cross…Colossians 1:20.…20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

It is this amazing truth that enables us to say with the angels, …Luke 2:14…14 "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."